Wired 25: The 25 Greatest Songs Sampling Aaliyah [LISTEN]

Today marks what would’ve been the 34th birthday of the legendary Aaliyah Dana Haughton. Although she’s been gone for close to twelve years, her impact is still felt today.

One of the most iconic voices and styles in entertainment, Aaliyah leaving this Earth entirely too early left an indelible mark on children who were young during her passing and have now grown to today’s top artists.

From Drake, J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar, the influence that she has had on today’s top artists is unmistakable to those who were teenagers when she passed away in 2001. Artists such as Jay-Z, Three 6 Mafia, Master P and more also paid homage to her distinct sound by sampling her even while she was still alive.

This week’s Wired 25, as we celebrate Aaliyah’s birthday, takes a look back at the 25 best Hip-Hop songs sampling the late great Aaliyah.

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Photo: YouTube

25. Kirko Bangz – “Mind Went Blank”

Kirko’s a new cat, but on one of his favored mixtape joints, he sampled the remix to “At Your Best.” 

24. Bow Wow – “How I Feel”

Bow Wow waxed poetic about life over a sample of Aaliyah’s “At Your Best.” 

23. Field Mob ft. Young Cash – “Stack Me A Million”

Possibly the most sampled Aaliyah track, “One In A Million,” was a hustler’s anthem from Field Mob and Young Cash. 

22. Ludacris ft. Timbaland – “Phat Rabbit”

On Ludacris’ first album, Back For The First Time, Timbaland re-used his classic introduction on “Are You That Somebody.” 

21. Brandy – “Turn It Up”

Brandy’s initial comeback album featured this record which sampled Timbaland, Magoo, Missy and Aaliyah’s “Up Jumps The Boogie.” 

20. The-Dream – “One In A Million”

The-Dream paid homage to baby girl by covering her classic record. 

19. Young Money ft. Lloyd – “Bed Rock”

Drake quick but memorable quip about watching his back, cause he’s not just anybody was originally uttered by his muse on “Are You That Somebody.”

18. Nipsey Hussle – “A Million”

Rapper’s everywhere used Aaliyah’s record about being unique as a hustler’s anthem to get to the millions, including Nipsey Hussle. 

17. Master P. ft. Magic – “Ghetto Prayer”

Magic sung the hook on Master P’s ghetto prayer in the style of Aaliyah’s “If Your Girl Only Knew.” 

16. Redman – “D.O.G.S.”

Reggie Noble sampled Aaliyah’s One In A Million album cut, “Ladies In The House.”

15. Chase N. Cashe – “O.M.W.”

The Surf Club general got busy over this slept on Playa and Aaliyah collaboration, “One Man Woman.” 

14. Lloyd ft. Roscoe Dash – “S*xcapade”

Young Goldie and Roscoe Dash paid homage to Baby Girl by re-doing her classic ballad, “Four Page Letter.” 

13. Three 6 Mafia – “Money Flow”

Juicy J and crew took the bassline from “If Your Girl Only Knew” on this The End album cut. 

12. A$AP Ferg – “Death B4 A Million”

A$AP Ferg chops and screw the hell out of “Back & Forth,” damn near beyond recognition. But it is there. 

11. AZ – “Let Me Know”

AZ takes Aaliyah’s ballad and speaks on his own life’s ills. 

10. Rick Ross ft. Ne-Yo – “She Crazy”

Off of his Ashes to Ashes mixtape, the Bawse takes Aaliyah’s hauntingly beautiful voice with Ne-Yo’s to create magic. 

9. Chase N. Cashe – “Chill”

Chase N. Cashe’s latest effort, CHARM, featured this fresh take on Ms. Haughton’s “Age Ain’t Nothin’ But A Number.”

8. The Weeknd – “What You Need”

The Weeknd’s sultry track off of his classic, House Of Balloons, featured Aaliyah’s looped voice from “Rock The Boat.” 

7. A$AP Rocky ft. 2 Chainz, Drake & Kendrick Lamar – “F**king Problems”

Noah “40” Shebib chopped up Aaliyah and Tank’s “Come Over” for A$AP Rocky’s current HIt single featuring Drake, Kendrick Lamar and 2 Chainz.

6. Andre 3000 – “Pink & Blue”

Three Stacks gets Aaliyah’s “Age Ain’t Nothin But A Number” scratched up on the beginning of “Pink & Blue.” Make you talk, baby talk. 

5. Dom Kennedy ft. Rick Ross – “Gold Alpinas”

Dom Kennedy and Rick Ross spit that smooth talk while Aaliyah’s beautiful voice from “Never Coming Back” soothed the ears. 

4. J. Cole – “Best Friend”

On J.Cole’s Friday Night Lights, he took on Missy Elliott and Aaliyah’s “Best Friends.” Not so much change, but Cole’s flow is so 90s, people who didn’t know better didn’t know it was a remake. 

3. Kendrick Lamar – “Blow My High (Members Only)”

Kendrick Lamar’s cult classic, Section .80 featured this record that not only sampled the fallen Aaliyah’s “4 Page Letter,”  but Pimp C’s classic verse on “Big Pimpin.”

2. Drake ft. Young Jeezy – “Unforgettable”

Drake’s debut album featured the Boi-1da produced and Young Jeezy featured “Unforgettable,” which paid homage to Aaliyah and “At Your Best.”

1. Jay-Z – “A Million And One Questions/Rhyme No More”

It’s best to give flowers when they can still smell them, and Jay-Z did just that by sampling Baby Girl on the introduction for his album, In My Lifetime: Vol. 1. Is he ever going to fall off? No.